J&K on the right track of development
Refer to ‘Reviving J&K tourism’; the tourism industry in Kashmir has been hit badly following the Pahalgam massacre that led to immense fear in the minds of prospective tourists. Many livelihoods in the Valley have been impacted adversely. The Centre’s decision to reopen important tourist spots in a phased manner is a good initiative towards the revival of tourism. However, the Centre and the state government will have to bear the heavy burden of ensuring their safety. The infra push in J&K has made it clear to the hostile neighbour that its nefarious designs are not going to work anymore. The people of J&K have already expressed their support to the Centre by condemning the Pahalgam act vociferously. The PM, too, has rightly sent a very stern message to Pakistan that the unhindered era of progress in J&K will not stop.
Ravi Sharma, Dhariwal
Wake-up call for aviation industry
Refer to ‘After the crash’, the Ahmedabad air disaster should serve as a wake-up call and must draw attention to the structural problems that afflict India’s aviation sector. With the Air India group being a dominant player in the market, it must live up to the expectations of the teeming millions who criss-cross the globe using its aircraft. It may take months before the causes of the Ahmedabad crash come to the fore, but all the airlines must act with due diligence and transparency in maintaining their aircraft and training their manpower, leaving no scope for a mishap.
SK Singh, by mail
Human concerns more important
Apropos of ‘After the crash’; the editorial brings to the fore the need for a focus on safety standards. There is a rat race and undue emphasis on economic growth and less concern for human aspects. Business interests have become so important that all other values seem to have become subservient to it. Manufacturers, service providers and pilots — everybody plays an important role in safe and secure air travel which brooks no error of judgement at any level. The AI-171 crash is a huge tragedy which must be considered as a wake-up call for ensuring the highest standards wherever human safety and security are concerned.
Jagvinder Singh Brar, Patiala
No sign of end to hostilities
The escalating tensions between Israel and Iran have again raised serious concerns for the whole world. Both Tel Aviv and Tehran are attacking each other’s assets and critical infrastructure with missiles, drones and other weapons. The extent of outright hostilities is seeing no sign of ebbing and will have a cascading impact on geopolitics. Israel is bent on the annihilation of Iran and Palestine. It is important for Israel to understand the relevance of global peace. For India, the priority should be to safely evacuate Indian nationals stuck in the war zone. From the diplomatic point of view, New Delhi needs to be highly vigilant, as India’s strategic interests lie in Iran as well as Israel.
Kirti Wadhawan, Kanpur
Get rid of freebie culture
When elections are around the corner, political parties often begin offering freebies to attract voters. These promises, which entice the common man, can become a heavy burden on the exchequer. Instead, the focus should be on job creation and sustainable development. Generating employment opportunities will keep the youth engaged and keep them away from crime. It’s time to bid farewell to the culture of freebies and promote responsible governance and an empowered citizenry. To curb this dangerous trend, the Election Commission must enforce strict regulations.
bansi ram, hoshiarpur
Promote generic medicines
The middle class and the poor are forced to buy branded medicines at exorbitant prices because our pharmacies do not sell generic medicines. The government, doctors and the healthcare industry must actively promote generic drugs through public awareness campaigns, advertisements and inclusion of generic medicines in prescriptions. This would lead to significant savings in healthcare costs and improve access to essential treatment.
Noopur Baruah, Tezpur
Letters to the Editor